A.M. Vitals: More Light Shed on J&J, FDA Communication

In the Loop: J&J says it kept the FDA informed of its plan to quietly remove defective Motrin from the shelves rather than carry out a recall, according to correspondence between the company and an FDA official, the WSJ reports. However, the FDA says it wasn’t aware of the efforts.

The company faces a second congressional hearing at the end of the month where lawmakers plan to ask in greater detail about the issue. FDA deputy commissioner Joshua Sharfstein has been invited to testify about the communication between the federal agency and the health-products maker.

More Coverage for Obesity: The obesity crisis may loom large, but patients have often had trouble getting insurance coverage for weight-loss efforts. That may change to some extent because of some of the provisions of the new health law, which will cover obesity screening and intensive behavioral counseling, according to the Washington Post and Kaiser Health News. But, just how many sessions will be covered and for what length of time hasn’t been determined, and some are skeptical that there will be much of an improvement in coverage at all.

No Decision on Fish: An FDA panel discussed the merits of a genetically modified fish yesterday and ended the day without recommending that the salmon be approved. There’s no indication the food isn’t safe, but several panelists expressed concern about the small size of the studies that have been conducted, reports the WSJ. Instead, the committee called for more information about possible side effects, including possible allergic reactions to the fish, notes the LA Times.